Why the word “significant” i...

How many times per day do you see the word “significant” in corporate communications? “Significant findings…” “Significant growth…” “Significant work…” “Significant challenges…” “Significant change…” “Significant consequences…” Do you even notice it anymore? The word is used so frequently—in everything from LinkedIn profiles to press releases and annual reports—that it’s lost its meaning. As any graphics design professor would say: If you bold everything on a page, nothing is bolded. If everything is described as...

16 clever pangrams for word lovers

How often does every letter in the alphabet appear in a sentence? That’s exactly what makes a “pangram” special. The most well-known such phrase is: “The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog.” Pangrams have been used for years to teach handwriting and typing—and to test typewriters, telegraphs, printers, typefaces and software. Graphic and font designers use pangrams to illustrate their work. For many pangram enthusiasts, the best pangrams are those with the fewest letters. “Mr. Jock, TV quiz Ph.D., bags few lynx.” is considered a “perfect pangram”...

A trademark quiz for PR professionals

Pop quiz: What do the following terms have in common? escalator kerosene corn flakes yo-yo These terms were each coined as a brand name, but were later appropriated by consumers as the generic name for the product. According to the International Trademark Association, “these ‘ghost-Marks’ serve as historic and costly reminders of what can happen to marks if the public comes to regard a brand name as the generic name of a product.” If you went through journalism school or have spent any time with the AP Stylebook, you’re familiar with the style rules that call...

In defense of adverbs

Adverbs aren’t very popular these days. We all know how Stephen King regards and Mark Twain regarded them. English teachers, writing coaches, and would-be authors advise everyone to avoid them. J.K. Rowling—best-selling author and creator of the “Harry Potter” series—has been criticized relentlessly for her use of them. Perhaps it’s time to take a closer look at adverbs, the most maligned of the parts of speech. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They describe how, when, where, and how much. Example: “I was soundly beaten the last time I...

The secret lives of fonts

We take typefaces for granted, rarely changing the default fonts that come with our software, web browsers or devices. If we decide to change a font, we mindlessly scroll through the list of typefaces, oblivious to the stories of their creation, the people who designed them, and the controversies surrounding their use. ( A font is a specific form of a given typeface. Verdana is a typeface; 18-point Verdana bold italic is a font.) Well, every typeface has a story—and here are seven of them. 1. Calibri — A modern sans-serif font, Calibri was designed by Dutch type...

9 puzzling phrases and their meanings

Fifty years from now, will people know what “wardrobe malfunction,” “mullet,” and “right-sizing” mean? As word connoisseurs, writers and editors are often fascinated with how language changes over time. Of particular interest are idioms and phrases that were once in common use but now puzzle us today. Here are some phrases that require some word sleuthing: (Expressions and definitions From Bees’ Knees and Barmy Armies: Origins of the Words and Phrases We Use Every Day by Harry Oliver ) 1. Bee’s knees — someone or something particularly good,...